Mechanotransduction: Tuning Stem Cells Fate

Abstract

It is a general concern that the success of regenerative medicine-based applications is based on the ability to recapitulate the molecular events that allow stem cells to repair the damaged tissue/organ. To this end biomaterials are designed to display properties that, in a precise and physiological-like fashion, could drive stem cell fate both in vitro and in vivo. The rationale is that stem cells are highly sensitive to forces and that they may convert mechanical stimuli into a chemical response. In this review, we describe novelties on stem cells and biomaterials interactions with more focus on the implication of the mechanical stimulation named mechanotransduction.

Modulus-dependent characteristics of Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSC) encapsulated in hydrogel microspheres

“…[1,26] Hydrogel microspheres exert force on immobilized WJMSCs to which cells responded by undergoing cytoskeletal rearrangement to resist the forces exerted as observed in the microspheres. [26,27] Consistent with other reports, the immobilized WJMSCs showed spherical morphology in the microspheres throughout the culture period. [16,28] However, degradation/breakage of alginate with respect to incubation time resulted in the release of encapsulated WJMSCs which adhered to the culture plate and exhibited stem cell-like morphology.…”

Biophysical factors in the regulation of asymmetric division of stem cells

“…The directionality of the mechanical force may also be involved in determining cell fate. For example, a defined‐direction mechanical force promotes transient cellular signalling mechanisms for proliferation, whereas undirected mechanical forces stimulate sustained cellular signalling (D'Angelo et al ., ).…”

Recent Advances in Nanocomposites Based on Aliphatic Polyesters: Design, Synthesis, and Applications in Regenerative Medicine

“…Now, the knowledge on stem cell biology and on their therapeutic potentials [109][110][111] steers the focus to stem cells as a suitable source for tissue engineering. In particular it is largely demonstrated that stem cells specifically respond to the characteristics of the biomaterials changing shape, adhesion property, and mainly, their phenotype [112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126]. Many types of stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells, bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells, adipose stem cells, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells have been explored [127,128].…”